Method and apparatus for generating electricity

Abstract

An energy generating device having a drum and at least one vane that is movable between a deployed state and a stowed state as the drum rotates to capture energy potential from flowing water and converting it to usable electrical and/or mechanical energy. The movable vanes can automatically retract when not in the flow of water and re-deploy when entering the flow of water over the drum. The present system can generate usable electricity or mechanical energy from slow but steadily flowing bodies of water without the need to dam, restrict, or alter the path of the water flow.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An energy generating device comprising:
 a body;   a cylindrical drum contained within the body and rotatable about a substantially transverse axis;   a stationary cam; and   at least one movable vane connected to an outer surface of the drum;   wherein the at least one vane is movable relative to the drum to a plurality of positions between a deployed state and a stowed state, and wherein an inside surface of a curved rear wall of the at least one movable vane sits flush with and against the outer surface of the cylindrical drum when the at least one movable vane is in the stowed state.   
     
     
         2 . The energy generating device of  claim 1  wherein the at least one vane further comprises:
 a first closed end; 
 a second closed end, the curved rear wall, the first closed end, and the second closed end thereby forming a cupped shape; and 
 at least one roller bearing. 
 
     
     
         3 . The energy generating device of  claim 2  wherein the at least one movable vane is movable through interaction between the at least one roller bearing and the stationary cam. 
     
     
         4 . The energy generating device of  claim 3  wherein the rotation of the drum about the transverse axis is driven by the flow of water from an associated body of water over the drum and into the at least one movable vane when in the deployed state. 
     
     
         5 . The energy generating device of  claim 4  wherein the at least one movable vane is pivotally connected to the drum and further comprises:
 a spring that biases the at least one vane towards the stowed state when the at least one roller bearing is not contacting the stationary cam. 
 
     
     
         6 . The energy generating device of  claim 4  wherein the at least one movable vane moves from the stowed state to the deployed state as the at least one movable vane enters the flow of water over the drum and moves from the deployed state to the stowed state as the at least one movable vane exits the flow of water over the drum. 
     
     
         7 . The energy generating device of  claim 4  further comprising a ramp upstream of the drum wherein the ramp further comprises:
 a first sidewall; 
 a second sidewall; 
 an upstream edge; and 
 a downstream edge; 
 and wherein the ramp is shaped to direct the flow of water over the drum. 
 
     
     
         8 . The energy generating device of  claim 4  further comprising a projection upstream of the drum configured to provide downforce to the energy generating device when water flows over the projection. 
     
     
         9 . The energy generating device of  claim 4  further comprising a spoiler attached to the body above the drum and the at least one movable vane when the vane is in the fully deployed position. 
     
     
         10 . The energy generating device of  claim 4  further comprising at least one ballast box fixed to at least one side of the body wherein the at least one ballast box further comprises a lid. 
     
     
         11 . The energy generating device of  claim 10  wherein the ballast box and the lid further comprise a perforated ballast box and a perforated lid. 
     
     
         12 . The energy generating device of  claim 4  further comprising at least one anchor extending downward from the body of the energy generating device and operable to anchor the energy generating device to the bottom surface of the associated body of water. 
     
     
         13 . The energy generating device of  claim 4  further comprising a grill extending transversely across the body and upstream of the drum and the at least one vane. 
     
     
         14 . The energy generating device of  claim 4  wherein the drum further comprises at least one flywheel fixed to the drum. 
     
     
         15 . The energy generating device of  claim 4  wherein the drum further comprises at least one sidewall containing at least one hole. 
     
     
         16 . The energy generating device of  claim 4  further comprising:
 an electrical generator coupled to the drum and operable to convert rotational energy from the drum to electrical energy; and 
 a power cord for carrying the electrical energy away from the generator. 
 
     
     
         17 . The energy generating device of  claim 4  further comprising:
 a mechanical pump coupled to the drum and operable to convert rotational energy from the drum to mechanical energy to operate the mechanical pump to thereby pump water; and 
 a water hose for carrying the water away from the mechanical pump. 
 
     
     
         18 . A method of generating energy comprising the steps of:
 installing a portable energy generating device within a flowing body of water;   directing a stream of flowing water over a rotatable drum within the energy generating device;   rotating at least one movable vane from a stowed state wherein an inside surface of a curved rear wall of the at least one movable vane sits substantially flush with and against an outer surface of the rotatable drum to a deployed state wherein the at least one movable vane extends into the flow of water over the drum;   capturing the potential energy from the flowing water with the at least one movable vane;   converting potential energy from the water flowing over the drum into rotational energy to rotate the drum;   capturing the rotational energy of the drum with a generator; and   directing the flow of energy from the generator to an end location remote from the energy generating device.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the step of rotating the at least one movable vane into the flow of water further comprises rotating the at least one movable vane from the stowed state to the deployed state as the at least one movable vane enters the stream of flowing water. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising:
 rotating the at least one movable vane from the deployed state to the stowed state as the at least one movable vane exits the stream of flowing water. 
 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein rotating the at least one movable vane from the deployed state to the stowed state is accomplished by a spring. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising
 storing the directed flow of energy from the generator in a storage battery.